Are Health IT Designers, Testers and Purchasers Trying to Harm Patients?

Scot Silverstein, MD | Health Care Renewal | February 18, 2009

In effect through superciliousness and complacency, they just might be, along with the people who approve EMR's, CPOE's and other clinical IT for sale, as well as those who actually purchase this IT for healthcare organizations. [6-part series]

In effect through superciliousness and complacency, they just might be, along with the people who approve EMR's, CPOE's and other clinical IT for sale, as well as those who actually purchase this IT for healthcare organizations.

The title of this post is deliberately provocative because the stakes of the issues addressed are so high, not to mention a personal motivation. My father died as a result of informational errors at a major hospital that could have been prevented with an effective EHR. These posts are dedicated to his memory.

Jan. 2011 addendum:

The issues discussed here and at my academic site on HIT difficulties are not theoretical or speculative. My mother was seriously injured in May 2010 as a result of an EMR contributing to a breakdown in clinician communications. She suffered a nearly fatal cerebral hemorrhage and major complications due to resultant medication reconciliation failure.

Clearly more "inclusive" approaches by clinicians towards addressing these issues have not succeeded.